Monday, April 30, 2012

Don’t let Mama Ricotta’s appearance fool you. It’s in a
strip mall, unassuming, and looks like a quaint restaurant with the usual
Italian fare. For dinner though, it’s hard to find a parking place, and people
were waiting outside for tables; obviously they’re doing something right. The
dim lighting, bustling atmosphere and innovative menu make for a festive, yet
family-friendly environment.

Service can totally make or break a restaurant visit. Our
server was on her A-game, describing numerous dinner specials, and taking our
order from memory. Garlic yeast rolls were promptly brought to the table
alongside a lovely, spicy red-pepper infused olive oil. I’ve never had anything
like this, and it was a welcome change from the usual herb or balsamic-laced
oil.

I was intrigued by the classics of course, but wanted to order
something a little different, as per usual. Wild Mushroom Polenta is a dish I
will remember for a long time (and tried unsuccessfully to replicate at home.) Seriously,
I dream about this bowl of velvety polenta, which had saltiness from goat
cheese, creaminess from mascarpone cheese, and meatiness from wild mushrooms,
which were coated in Marsala. This is a great Vegetarian option, and I had to
resist licking the bowl. One of the best dishes I’ve enjoyed since moving to
Charlotte. (*That being said, it was not ready for its close-up. I've chosen to spare you the photo.)

To counteract the lusciousness of the polenta, the
Chopped Salad served as a great palate cleanser. Chopped romaine was topped
with some of my favorite salad mix-ins: gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, tomatoes,
olives, red onions, chickpeas and pepperoncini. Light balsamic dressing
enhanced the veggies, and each bite had a fresh flavor and crunch. You know the
restaurant is good when something as simple as a salad hits a home run.

Mama Ricotta’s serves their dishes either individual or
family-style, though the individual servings are huge. I can’t wait to go back,
and if you haven’t been, you need to go immediately. You’ll probably see me
there licking the bowl.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Every girl I
know has fallen in love with Ryan Gosling in the last year. I’m no exception. Besides
the hilarious tumblr posts that portray him as a sensitive poet, success with
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “The Ides of March” both earned him Golden Globe
nominations. Though I’m a little late seeing it, “Drive” shows us another side
of Gosling – he can play a badass.

The song
playing during the opening credits (“Nightcall” by Kavinsky and Lovefoxxx) sets
the bar for a killer soundtrack. In a high stakes opening scene, we’re introduced
to a stunt car driver, assisting a robbery. He’s cool under pressure and sports
a toothpick in his mouth, though when something goes wrong, I don’t know how he
doesn’t swallow it. This awesome intro scene leaves us wanting more, but
instead we get a too long (and too slow) exposition.

Gosling’s
character is never given a name, but we know he’s a baller behind the wheel,
and works as a mechanic for Bryan Cranston. Huge fan of Cranston - loveable on
“Malcolm in the Middle,” brilliant on “Breaking Bad,” and shines in this
supporting role. He is crippled and vulnerable, and he’s the closest thing to
family Gosling has. That is of course, until he meets Irene (Carey Mulligan - love
her!) and her little boy. As soon as they’re introduced, Gosling departs his
bad boy image and becomes a shy yet flirtatious gentleman as he bonds with this
pair. Mulligan is a natural beauty and effortlessly portrays a believable mom.
The audience is forced to wonder the true relationship between Gosling and
Irene - does she fall for him romantically? Or does she just appreciate having
a good father figure/role-model for her son?

The plot
seems to go a bit awry for more reason than one when Irene’s husband, Standard,
gets out of jail. Though he’s slightly threatened by Gosling’s relationship
with his family, Standard asks for his help in getting revenge on some bad dudes.
Gosling choosing to help could not have been a worse decision.

Albert Brooks
is the heartless antagonist, and the gore starts halfway through the film. It’s
not as bad as I was anticipating, though it definitely warrants an “R” rating.
Unconventional action scenes feature opera music and slow-motion cuts. This was
innovative, but took me out of the scene.

Though the
ending leaves some questions, “Drive” takes you on a great ride. It seems Ryan
Gosling can do no wrong.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I spent four glorious years in Chapel Hill – not nearly long
enough. During my time there, my meals consisted of delicious sorority house
cooking, and brunches at Elmo’s and Sutton’s Drug Store. Though I’ve always been
a foodie, I didn’t exactly have $30 to spend on an entrée at Lantern, but the
restaurant’s reputation always intrigued me. Executive Chef Andrea Reusing is
the 2011 winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. The James Beard Awards are the Oscars of the food world. In addition, the restaurant has
been featured in numerous publications, including Southern Living and Gourmet Magazine. When an opportunity to dine at Lantern finally presented itself last
week, I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

The only reservation
time available on a Tuesday was at 5:30pm. When you’re in NYC, dinner isn’t
until 9 or 10pm, but down South, I’m totally fine being an early bird. By the
time we left, each table was full. Minimalistic décor and Chinese lanterns (how
appropo) adorn the quaint restaurant. The back bar is dark, romantic and cozy.
There’s even a small stone garden outside, perfect for meditating, or settling
into your food coma. In a Wall Street Journal article published last year,
Reusing said “Fusion became a stand-in for confusion,” so she makes a point to
stay true to Asian flavors, and doesn’t “Americanize” her menu.

Our server was very well-versed in dinner specials and
prices. I began my Lantern experience with the Cunning Kimono, a crisp and
refreshing cocktail consisting of jasmine flower vodka, fresh lemon and honey.
It was garnished with a lemon curl, and tasted earthy, in a good way.

The Bento Box is
essentially “build your own sushi.” The box was delivered to the table with the
top on, so it was like opening a present! Great presentation. Sake and
tea-cured Arctic Char, house-pickled ginger, red cabbage, miso mayonnaise,
sticky rice, fresh wasabi and nori (seaweed) were each in their own section of
the box. The pickled ginger tasted like straight vinegar, not the usual sweet
and sour flavor I was expecting. The red cabbage and miso mayonnaise were the
star ingredients, and it was a fun, hands-on dish.

Crispy Duck Soup was
presented in a pot, covered with a lid, so again it felt like Christmas morning
to open this gift. I was greeted with a cloud of steam and was pleased with the
feast that awaited me. Our server told me I would be extremely satiated after
eating this dish…obviously he underestimated my palate. I didn’t find it too
satiating at all. Fresh egg noodles and a confit duck leg floated in a clear
duck broth, along with oyster and shiitake mushrooms, bok choy and scallions.
If the broth had been cream-based, it definitely would have been too rich. Schezwan
pepper and chilli oil were presented in little dishes, to use as a condiment
for the soup. The Schezwan pepper had a sweet heat that I didn’t care for,
while the chilli oil would have been delicious to dip bread in. I used every
drop of it. I decided it was too classy an establishment to drink straight from
the bowl, but I hated to leave all the broth since that’s where so much of the
flavor was.

I had extremely high expectations for Lantern, and for the
most part, they were met. It’s been open for 10 years, so it’s not a secret
anymore – this place (and Chef Reusing) have quite the reputation now. And we
should all be proud to have a James Beard winner so close to home.

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About Me

Movies and food are two of my biggest passions. For my New Year’s resolution in 2012, I decided to start this blog, reviewing “Cuisine and Screen.”
I love an artsy independent film as much as a summer blockbuster, and “Award Show Season” is my favorite time of year (don’t try calling me the night of the Golden Globes, SAGs or the Oscars.) I miss strolling the aisles of video stores (RIP) and finding gems I missed at the theatres, hidden among thousands of DVDs. I'm excited to write about new movies as well as ones I’ve just seen for the first time.
My Food Network addiction has led to many triumphs (and disasters) in the kitchen. So instead of a recipe blog, I decided to chronicle as many restaurant experiences as my wallet permits.
I hope you find this blog entertaining and informative, and that it gives you some suggestions for your next movie night or special dinner out!